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Old 26-Nov-2012, 7:39 AM   #4
GroundUrMast
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tristan View Post
...

I've heard you should keep cable signals (if you're getting cable) and OTA signals separated on different physical cables. Can anyone confirm or refute this?
You're right...

Cable systems must never be connected to an antenna. Cable systems are 'closed' systems which allows them to use frequencies assigned to over the air services including police, fire, medical, military and aviation services. If you connect cable signals to an antenna, you'll cause harmful interference to licensed services.

So, if you install an antenna and keep cable for internet only, do not connect the cable network to any part of your OTA antenna cabling system.

And even if interference to life safety service was not an issue, the cable company often uses the same frequencies as the TV broadcaster, so the cable signal would interfere with the antenna derived signal... and cable uses an different modulation scheme than OTA broadcasting, QAM vs. ATSC.
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